The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 51: This Seat's Master... Pfft, Hahaha

For the next three days, Chu Wanning's expression was grim, and his temper was short.

Elder Yu Heng wore his disdain on his face, casting a gloom wherever he went. Disciples scattered at the sight of him, and even Xue Zhengyong could sense the faint aura of killing intent around him, daring not to engage in much conversation.

Though Chu Wanning refused to acknowledge any improper thoughts towards Mo Ran, seeing his two disciples so affectionate with each other in front of the wooden dummies stirred up his anger, leaving a sour taste in his chest.

He felt disgusted.

Not just by others, but more so by himself.

Mo Weiyu was merely his disciple; it was none of his business who he chose to cling to or tangle with. Why did he have the right to be displeased and lash out with a willow vine? Who they liked to be close to had nothing to do with him. What business was it of his? How could Chu Wanning be so petty!

...Alright, assuming that he indeed had those unspeakable desires for Mo Ran, so what? He had always been proud of his self-control and arrogance, which were enough to restrain his inner turmoil and eventually smother those terrifying impulses in his heart over time.

This hidden emotion would remain known only to himself.

Aside from the amorous silk pouch dropped by the Ghost Conductor and the strand of black hair entwining him and Mo Ran, nothing else would remain.

Mo Ran would never know his feelings, just as he would never know that it was not Shi Mo who had saved him from the depths of Jin Chengchi, enduring immense pain, but rather his own self, who had temporarily swapped souls with Shi Mo.

But what was this feeling now?

Was it... jealousy?

This thought caused Chu Wanning to be genuinely choked up.

For several months afterward, he made a conscious effort to avoid any unnecessary interaction with Mo Ran, limiting their conversations to mere guidance on daily cultivation practices.

As the year neared its end, one day Chu Wanning returned from subduing demons on the mountain. As he approached the mountain gate, snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky.

Swiftly, Mount Samsara was enshrouded in a ethereal silver garb, and Chu Wanning, sensitive to the chill, tightened his robe and strode purposefully towards the Danxin Hall.

Within the hall, a charcoal fire burned, and the wood crackled merrily in its copper basin, producing a crisp, resonant sound.

Chu Wanning had originally come to report to Xue Zhengyong, but instead of finding the Lord, he stumbled upon Mo Ran.

The Heart Pillar Hall was empty save for the two of them. It was the first time in months that Chu Wanning had been alone with Mo Ran, and he couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. To make matters worse, this was where that absurd dream had taken place.

Speaking of that dream, Chu Wanning had actually experienced it repeatedly since then, each time with vivid clarity. At first, Chu Wanning had been perplexed by it, but eventually, he simply got used to it, watching idly as the dream-Mo Ran rambled wildly like a madman, counting Mo Ran's eyelashes one, two, three...

However, the dream always cut off at a crucial moment. After several such occurrences, Grandmaster Chu concluded that his noble character would never indulge in such filthy fantasies.

This thought helped the vulnerable and pure-hearted Elder Yu Heng regain some dignity. Nonetheless, the combination of Mo Ran and the Heart Pillar Hall still instinctively made Chu Wanning feel a sense of danger.

Yet the youth remained utterly oblivious, his pitch-black brows unfurrowing as he caught sight of him, a wide grin splitting his face. "Master, you're back," he exclaimed cheerfully.

"…Hmm."

"Looking for Uncle? He's at Auntie's palace; she's not feeling well, so he's attending to her and can't leave. If you have any matters, I can relay them to him."

Chu Wanning pressed his lips together and said coolly, "There's no need."

With those words, he turned to leave.

But Mo Ran called out to him, "Master, wait a moment."

"What is it..."

As he spoke, he turned around, only to be caught off guard by Mo Ran's hand brushing against his jet-black eyebrow.

Mo Ran brushed away the snow, then said in the most casual manner, "Look at you, you're covered in snow."

Chu Wanning was momentarily stunned.

Allowing the youth to chatter away, he gently removed the snow covering Chu Wanning and fetched a white handkerchief to wipe his damp hair.

Chu Wanning was sensitive to the cold and couldn't afford to catch a chill, for it would easily lead to illness.

Yet, this person had never known how to take care of himself. In his previous life, after Chu Wanning was confined, he often sat in the courtyard, watching the carp swim, oblivious to the snowfall around him.

Consequently, he frequently caught colds and fever, and after losing his spiritual core, his Master became even more frail. An illness would often leave him bedridden for half a month, with countless doses of herbal medicine offering little relief.

Thus, when Mo Ran noticed snowflakes resting on Chu Wanning's brow and shoulder, half-melted and half-frozen, he instinctively reached out to brush them away.

Yet halfway through, he abruptly realized that this action might be too intimate. He lifted his head and found himself meeting Chu Wanning's deeply veiled phoenix eyes.

Chu Wanning was staring at him. "…"

Mo Ran awkwardly retracted his hand. "Haha, sorry, Master, I overstepped. You should dry yourself, you should."

His embarrassment seemed to ease Chu Wanning's tension.

After all, it was only a dream.

His disciple still had the same temperament as before, completely different from the one who called himself "This Seat" in the dream.

Chu Wanning fell silent for a moment, took the handkerchief from Mo Ran, removed his cloak, and went to warm his hands by the fire while wiping the melting snow from his hair.

"When did you realize you were overstepping?" The flames illuminated Chu Wanning's face as he glanced sidelong, "Weren't you always quite unconventional?"

Mo Ran: "…"

For a moment, they were both silent. Chu Wanning finished drying his hair, nonchalantly tucked away the handkerchief, and gave Mo Ran another casual glance.

"Speaking of which, what are you doing here?"

Mo Ran hurriedly replied, "Isn't it the end of the year? There's a backlog of documents that need to be organized, so I came to help..."

Chu Wanning interrupted him, "I know there are annual records to sort through, but isn't that Shi Mingjing's responsibility? Why are you doing it?"

Mo Ran: "....Master, your memory is truly impressive."

Unswayed by the flattery, Chu Wanning asked, "Where is he?"

"He said he had a headache and was feeling feverish this morning, with excessive sweating all over," Mo Ran explained, noticing Chu Wanning's gaze. "Sorry, Master, I advised him to rest in bed. Please don't blame him for slacking off."

Such a defense was like a sharp needle, causing Chu Wanning's brows to furrow slightly. After a moment of silence, Chu Wanning asked, "Is he alright?"

Relieved that he wasn't being scolded, Mo Ran answered, "I just brought him some medicine before I left. He was already asleep when I departed. It's just a minor cold; he should recover in two or three days. Thank you for your concern, Master."

"I'm not really concerned about you two; it was just a casual question."

Mo Ran: "...."

"Off you go. Take your time to sort things out."

With that, Chu Wanning left alone.

On the Summit of Life and Death, it was strictly forbidden for disciples to do each other's assigned tasks. Mo Ran had anticipated being punished by his master but was surprised when Chu Wanning let him off so easily. He stood in a daze for a while, not realizing what had happened until Chu Wanning was almost out of sight.

In the snowy field, Chu Wanning walked alone. Mo Ran picked up the umbrella leaning against the doorframe and ran out into the snow.

"Master!"

"Wait for me, Master!"

Chu Wanning turned around, and Mo Ran halted in front of him. He shook the snow off the umbrella and held it high above them both, positioning it properly.

"The snow is heavy. Let's use the umbrella on our way back."

Chu Wanning glanced at him. "It's not necessary."

Mo Ran offered him the umbrella, but Chu Wanning was uninterested and refused persistently. In their tug-of-war, the umbrella was accidentally knocked away into the swirling snow. A gust of wind swept it several yards distant.

Chu Wanning gazed at the umbrella that had gently landed in the snow. It was a trivial matter, and he wished to remain detached as he always had. But suddenly, he found himself unable to move.

Just as a candle flame will eventually extinguish, and an ancient well will run dry.

Even the most resilient person has a breaking point.

Chu Wanning turned his head, brushing his sleeves in anger. "Mo Weiyu, can't you just leave me alone? I'm not Shi Mingjing, I don't need anyone to take care of me!"

As he spoke, a burst of golden light suddenly illuminated from his hand. Mo Ran instinctively took a step back, assuming Chu Wanning was about to strike again with Tianwen. To his surprise, a golden fountain rose from Chu Wanning's palm, forming a dazzling barrier in the air that shielded him from the swirling snow and wind around them.

Mo Ran: "..."

A barrier that shields from snow and rain...

Chu Wanning's sword-like brows furrowed in a stern and aloof expression as he asked, "Do you think I need an umbrella?"

He seemed genuinely enraged, for his fingertips moved swiftly, causing the barrier's glow to transform - from golden to red, then from red to purple, from purple to blue, and finally from blue to green.

With each shift in color, the barrier's effects were distinct. Some merely provided shelter from the snow, while others shielded against the biting cold winds. Remarkably, there were those that could transform the freezing snowflakes into warmth within the barrier itself.

These techniques were too powerful; naturally, Chu Wanning couldn't afford to waste his spiritual energy like this in his daily life. This sort of childish display, done out of spite, left Mo Ran momentarily speechless.

"Master, please don't be angry..."

"Which eye did you see me being angry with? !" Chu Wanning's face had turned ashen with fury. "Hurry up and get lost!"

"Okay, okay, I'll go, I'll go." Mo Ran glanced at the barrier above his head. "But you shouldn't exhaust your spiritual energy like this either..."

"Scram!"

With a wave of his hand, Chu Wanning abruptly collapsed the barrier, transforming it into a bolt of lightning that thundered down in front of Mo Ran.

Mo Ran almost got struck head-on by the lightning summoned by Chu Wanning. He had been uncommonly considerate, showing concern for the other, but received such a response. For a moment, he felt a surge of resentment. As he opened his mouth to speak, he looked up and saw Chu Wanning standing in the snow, his face pale and his eyes slightly red.

Mo Ran froze. "You...?"

"There is no need for excessive concern between us, merely master and disciple. Take your umbrella and get lost."

Mo Ran was startled, suddenly realizing something.

"Master, that day at the martial arts training ground, when Shi Mo and I were conversing, did you..."

Noted.

Chu Wanning, however, remained silent and turned to leave.

This time, Mo Ran didn't call out to him, and he didn't turn back either.

Halfway through, he suddenly couldn't resist sneezing. Chu Wanning's steps faltered for a moment before he quickened his pace, his head down. It was as if he were angry, or perhaps trying to escape.

Throughout it all, Mo Ran stood in the midst of the boundless snowfall, staring blankly at his retreating figure until it vanished, lost in thought.

The moment Chu Wanning returned to the Red Lotus Water Pavilion, he fell ill.

Though he could create a barrier to shield himself from rain and snow, when it came to his own affairs, he was always indolent and reluctant to expend his spiritual energy. Otherwise, during rainy days, he wouldn't have walked around with a simple oil paper umbrella like an ordinary person.

After a series of sneezes, a splitting headache and fever ensued. Yet, having been sick for so long, he had become something of a self-taught physician and was no stranger to colds. He took some medicine, freshened up, changed clothes, and then burrowed under the covers to sleep.

Perhaps due to the cold, the nauseating sensation that had plagued him since Jin Chengchi's injury was particularly acute that night. He slept fitfully throughout the entire evening, drenched in cold sweat, his body burning like a furnace.

By the second day's noon, Chu Wanning finally stirred from his groggy state. He opened his eyes, lay in bed for a while in a daze, and then slowly got out of bed, preparing to put on his shoes.

Then, he froze.

He suddenly realized that his boots had grown significantly larger overnight...

Upon closer inspection.

Chu Wanning: "..............."

...

Even Elder Yu Heng, known for his composure, could not withstand such a shock.

It wasn't that his boots had grown larger.

Chu Wanning stared blankly at his hands, his legs, his bare feet, and the shoulder exposed from his sliding clothing.

Was it... himself who had shrunk???

Author's Note:

Mini-drama (Adapted from an internet classic):

Xue Meng: You dog, let me test you. What do you call a cold and distant Master?

Mo Ran: Your Highness.

Xue Meng: And what do you call an angry Master?

Mo Ran: Your Majesty.

Xue Meng: How about a Master who has shrunk in size?

Mo Ran: Come here, let big brother give you a kiss (^▽^)

Xue Meng: Fail. Get lost.